I am not shocked at all with these findings. I used to teach HS at an inner-city charter school - I now teach at a private HS. I see and hear what these kids think about education. Parents of these kids are nonexistent, these kids are the adults in most of the households - after school they are watching younger sibs while some of their parents are out smoking crack and weed. I witnessed EOC (end of course) exams, which our state uses to measure preformance, where students were just filling out the scan-trons in a pattern. Of course teachers get blamed for not teaching, but it is the student who wants to remain on the government eltitement listing.
I kid you not when I tell you this. On day one, as we were going through our syllabus, I’d have kids say things like “you do too much”, “i ain’t doing all this”. And then the best one ever, “i get rent paid on the first, food stamps on the 8th and the 25th, what are going gonna do for me?” to which my response was “I am going to kick your hind end in this class and make you proud of your work”. By the second week of class I had started to see changes in some.
Believe it our not about 40% of these kids are itching to get out and make something for themselves. I know that one day I will call one of my former students doctor - I can’t wait, I will be so proud of her - she is so proper and driven - when you meet her parents you wonder where she gets it from because they are the epitome of ghetto. Two of my favorites are heading to Mizzou - with my oldest - to study engineering. Another handful are starting culinary school this fall. Another is staring MSU to study pyschology. I have a few who are going to Chicago Art Institute and St. Louis Art Institute. There are some good seeds out there - true diamonds in the rough. In a way I feel like I have let the remaining students down by leaving that school, but I have to watch out for myself sometimes.
You didn’t let anybody down. You did your part and helped a good many of those kids to believe in themselves. You were there when you were meant to be there. I’m sure any school is glad to have you. Thanks for being a teacher who had to be tough enough to show the care you have for your students.